Improvement in machines for polishing boot and shoe-heels



CHARLES H. HELMS, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FR POLISI-IING BOOT AND SHOE-HEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No..1l7,283, dated July 25, 1871.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HELMs, of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful I 1nproveinents in Machines for Polishing the Heels of Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full description of the same.

The nature of my invention consists: 1st, in making the polishers of a semi-elliptic or oval shape, so as to coliform to the oval shape of the boot or shoe-heel, and thus, by their reciprocating motion, quickly and perfectly rub down and polish the heel. 2d, in making the polishers selfadjustable to the heel by means of pressuresprings in combination with a hollow box (into which the stud projecting from the back of the polishers work) for the purpose of holding the polishers steadily while being vibrated on the heel to polish it. 3d, in combiningl with reciprocating polishers and standard a tension-spring for holding the slide to which the polishers are attached firmly in contact with the curved end of the standard to prevent all tendency of the slide to rattle should the parts wear away slightly and yet not enough to impair the successful working of the machine. 4th, in combining with the standard and polishers elastic heel-rests upon which one edge of the heel is supported while the other edge is being polished.

But to describe my invention more particularly I will refer to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specilication, the saine letters of reference Wherever they occur referring to like parts. Figure l, sheet l, is a front view of the machine. Fig. 2, sheet l, is a side view of the same. Fig. 3, sheet 2, is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4, sheet 2, is a detached cut sectional view of the polisher and box and slide to which it is attached. Fig. 5, sheet 2, is a detached side view of the polisher.

A is the bed-plate of the machine, upon which is elevated a frame or standard, B, and to which the polishers and heel-rests are attached. The standard and bed-plate are made of cast-iron. In its upper end, from front to rear, is cut a vertical slit, G, of some four or more or less inches in length, thus leaving the upper end of the standard forked. The object of this is, first, to admit of the .application of a spiral or other suitable tension-spring, D, being arranged therein,

to be out of the way of the workin g parts of the polishers and to hold the slide to which they are attached firmly against the rounded upper ends of the standard while they are reciprocated, and second, to form suitable guide-ways at the outer edges of the standard for giving a steady support to the polishers as they are vibrated over the curved eud E of the standard. ThisI curved formation of the back upper end of the standard is part of a true circle from the front upper edge ofthe standard backward about ninety degrees. The object of making this curvature ofthe back upper end of the standard is to work the polishers on a curved line, and thus follow the curvature of the heel throughout one-half of its surface without much change of the position of the boot or shoe on the heel-rest. For the purpose of operating the polishers, or to give to them the curved reciprocatingmotion, a slide, F, is adjusted upon the curved ends of the standard and held in place loosely thereon by means of a strap of iron, Gr, or other suitable material passing over the upper side of the slide and having its ends properly secured to the post, so as to let the slide have a free and easy reciprocating motion underneath it and upon the rounded ends ofthe standard. This reciprocating motion is given by a pitman-rod, H, having one end attached to a stud projecting from the slide F by a link-joint,l and the other and low er end to a crank, J, on the main propelling-shaft K. Thus, on rotating the shaft K by the pulley L, the slide wilLbe reciprocated on a curved line to cause the polishers M to follow the curved outline of the half of the heel of a boot or shoe. These polishers are made of chilled cast-iron or other suitable surface-harden ed metal, with an ovate concave lower or polishing-face, bevelin g off to their outer edges. This conformation of the faces of the polishers is, iirst, for the purpose of adapting them to the shape of the heel, which is oval in shape and tapering toward the cap of the heel, and, therefore, the beveling of the polishers to enable them to act on all parts ofthe heel at once as they are reciprocated; and

second, the sharp curvature at the rear end of the polishers is also for the purpose of preventing the heel of the boot or shoe from getting wedged between the end of the polisher and the end of the heel-rest N, as would be the case if the polisherswere made on a true curve of the same diameter as their front ends. By giving them the abrupt downward curve at their back ends, therefore, admits of the operator pressing the heel of the boot or shoe with all his strength against the polishers, and thus not only quickening the polishing of the heel, but also puts a better iinish on it. To secure the polishers to the reciprocating slide a stud, P, is secured to their upper sides, which is inserted into a hollow box, Q, secured to the upper side of the slide and held therein by a pin, It, passing transversely through the studs P and through vertical slots r r in the sides of the boxes Q. Within the cavity of the boXes and above the studs P are arranged Y' spiral springs S for the purpose Yof giving totheY pclishers an elastic pressure on the heel. These polishers are intended to be heated by a jet of gas projected into the hollow of the boxes Q, and into the cavity of the studs Pand polishers, which are intended to be hollowed out for that object. N is a heel-rest working in guide-ways T secured to the sides of the standard. These rests are -inade adjustable vertically by means of a spiral spring, U, working in a suitable box to the side of the standard, and acting against their lower ends to keep them up to their proper place to support the heel under the pressure ofthe polishers. To increase the tension of the springs a screw is inserted in the lower end of the springbox, and thus, by turning it, any required pressure can be applied to the spring.

It will be obvious, from the construction of the machine, that it is what may be called a rightand-left-handed machine-that is, but halt' of the heel is polished at a time. This is done by the operator taking position in front of the machine with the toe of the boot in his left hand and shank in his right, placing the cap of the heel against the standard between the rest and polisher and nishing one side of it. When this is done the hands are changed, the right taking hold of the toe and the left hold of the shank, placing the cap against the opposite side of the standard, when the heel will be finished.

Having now described my invention and its operations, I will proceed to set forth what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of Vthe United States. "r

I claim- 1. The semi-oval concave-faced curvilinear reciprocating heel-polishers, substantially as described, and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the heel-polishers, as set forth, with the slide F, boX Q, and springs S, all arranged and operating in the manner sub stantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. In combination with the reciprocating polishers P and slide F, the tension-spring D, substantially as described.

4L. In combination with the standard B and polishers P, the self-adjustable heel-rests N, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

CHARLES H. HELMS.

Vitnesses:

FRANKLIN BARRITT, CHARLns L. BARRITT. 

